Staff
Pastor Joshua serves as the Senior Pastor here at First Baptist. He received his college training from Northland Baptist Bible College and Appalachian Bible College. Pastor Joshua began his ministry to our church family in January of 2015. He has 20 years of experience in youth ministry. Most recently serving as the Associate Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Cedar Springs, Michigan. His primary ministry is preaching and shepherding. Pastor Joshua also teaches Sunday School, teaches in Awana once a month, preaches in youth group on occasion, and serves in any other area of need.
His heartbeat is to see lives changed one by one through the power of God’s Word. This happens not only from the pulpit on Sundays, but also by an intentional decision to allow one life to touch another. The lifelong process growing mature Christians is what drives him forward. It is his goal to see everyone in the church digging into God’s Word regularly, being open and accountable to each other, serving with the gifts God has given them, and becoming more like Christ as we journey through life together.
Pastor Joshua also enjoys serving our community as a firefighter for the Howard City Fire Department, as well as a first responder for Montcalm County Emergency Services. This has given him many opportunities to make connections in the community and share the love of Christ with others.
Pastor Joshua met his wife, Amy, at Appalachian Bible College and they were married in 2002. She is proud to have been born and raised in West Virginia, but has lived in Michigan long enough that it is home, too. Pastor Joshua and Amy enjoy serving together in ministry. The Putnams were married for 10 years before God saw fit to give them the gift of children. They now enjoy the blessing of 3 little ones – Alyvia, Bennson, and Amyah.
Pastor Joshua is very aware that anything accomplished through his ministry is because of God. He is the one that gives any ability and He receives all the glory. .
An important verse in his ministry is John 15:5 – I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Pastor Mike serves as the Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church of Howard City. In 2014, Pastor Mike received his bachelor’s in Bible and Youth & Family Ministries from Appalachian Bible College. He began his ministry at First Baptist in August of 2016. Prior to that, he served ministering to youth at a small Baptist church in Beckley, West Virginia. He currently leads the ministry to the teens (Ignite Ministries), as well as the music ministry, and men’s basketball. In addition to these ministries, Pastor Mike thoroughly enjoys the opportunity he receives to preach the Word one Sunday a month.
His desire is to see the people of the church grow spiritually. He is burdened for the maturing of believers through diligent discipling, solid teaching of doctrine, compassionate loving of one another, and proper using of spiritual gifts to edify the church. His primary goal for training the youth at First Baptist is to not only be godly leaders within the church, but also powerful examples of Christ to the world. He is also very passionate about family ministries, having a great desire to aid the parents in being the primary source for leading their own homes spiritually.
Besides spending his time at the church, Pastor Mike enjoys sports (especially playing basketball and watching the Detroit Lions), playing his guitar, hanging out with his friends and the teens from youth group, riding his ATV or moped, playing games (video and board games), and spending time with his wife and kids.
Pastor Mike married Rebekah in 2013. She has been a huge blessing to his life and ministry. She serves with him in youth ministry as a leader and in the music ministry as the pianist. God has blessed them with 3 children – Marcus, Evalette, and Annalise. Pastor Mike gives all glory to God for what he has accomplished in him and holds to the reassurances of 1 Timothy 1:12.
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into ministry.”